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universities were not so easily 〃dismantled〃。 Massive amounts of
capital had been invested in them； and they were not about to dissolve
just because a few students had gone wild。 And in fact those students
who had sealed off the campus had not wanted to dismantle the
university either。 All they had really wanted to do was shift the
balance of power within the university structure； about which I
couldn't have cared less。 And so； when the strike was finally crushed； I
felt nothing。
I went to the campus in September expecting to find rubble。 The place
was untouched。 The library's books had not been carted off； the tutors'
offices had not been destroyed； the student affairs office had not been
burned to the ground。 I was thunderstruck。 What the hell had they
been doing behind the barricades？
When the strike was defused and lectures started up again under
police occupation； the first ones to take their seats in the classrooms
were those arseholes who had led the strike。 As if nothing had ever
happened； they sat there taking notes and answering 〃present〃 when
the register was taken。 I found this incredible。 After all； the strike was
still in effect。 There had been no declaration bringing it to an end。 All
that had happened was that the university had called in the riot police
and torn down the barricades； but the strike itself was supposed to be
continuing。 The arseholes had screamed their heads off at the time of
the strike； denouncing students who opposed it （or just expressed
doubts about it）； at times even trying them in their own kangaroo
courts。 I made a point of visiting those former leaders and asking why
they were attending lectures instead of continuing to strike； but they
couldn't give me a straight answer。 What could they have said？ That
they were afraid of losing marks through lack of attendance？ To think
that these idiots had been the ones screaming for the dismantling of
the university！ What a joke。 The wind changes direction a little； and
their cries bee whispers。
Hey； Kizuki； I thought； you're not missing a damn thing。 This world is
a piece of shit。 The arseholes are getting good marks and helping to
create a society in their own disgusting image。
For a while I attended lectures but refused to answer when they took
the register。 I knew it was a pointless gesture； but I felt so bad I had no
choice。 All I managed to do was isolate myself more than ever from
the other students。 By remaining silent when my name was called； I
made everyone unfortable for a few seconds。 None of the other
students spoke to me； and I spoke to none of them。
By the second week in September I reached the conclusion that a
university education was meaningless。 I decided to think of it as a
period of training in techniques for dealing with boredom。 I had
nothing I especially wanted to acplish in society that would
require me to abandon my studies straight away； and so I went to my
lectures each day； took notes； and spent my free time in the library
reading or looking
things up。
And though that second week in September had rolled around； there
was no sign of Storm Trooper。 More than unusual； this was an earth…
shattering development。 University had started up again； and it was
inconceivable that Storm Trooper would miss lectures。 A thin layer of
dust covered his desk and radio。 His plastic cup and toothbrush； tea
tin； insecticide spray and so on stood in a neat row on his shelf。
I kept the room clean in his absence。 I had picked up the habit of
neatness over the past year and a half； and without him there to take
care of the room； I had no choice but to do it。 I swept the floor each
day； wiped the window every third day； and aired my mattress once a
week； waiting for him to e back and tell me what a great job I had
done。
But he never came back。 I returned from lectures one day to find all
his stuff gone and his name tag removed from the door。 I went to the
dorm Head's room and asked what had happened。
〃He's withdrawn from the dormitory；〃 he said。 〃You'll be alone in the
room for the time being。〃
I couldn't get him to tell me why Storm Trooper had disappeared。 This
was a man whose greatest joy in life was to control everything and
keep others in the dark。
Storm Trooper's iceberg poster stayed on the wall for a time； but I
eventually took it down and replaced it with Jim Morrison and Miles
Davis。 This made the room seem a little more like my own。 I used
some of the money I had saved from work to buy a small stereo。 At
night I would drink alone and listen to music。 I thought about Storm
Trooper every now and then； but I enjoyed living alone。
At 11。30 a。m。 one Monday； after a lecture on Euripides in History of
Drama； I took a ten…minute walk to a little restaurant and had an
omelette and salad for lunch。 The place was on a quiet backstreet and
was slightly more expensive than the student dining hall； but you
could relax there； and they knew how to make a good omelette。
〃They〃 were a married couple who rarely spoke to each other； plus
one part…time waitress。 As I sat there eating by the window； a group of
four students came in； two men and two women； all rather neatly
dressed。 They took the table near the door； spent some time looking
over the menu and discussing their options； until one of them reported
their choices to the waitress。
Before long I noticed that one of the girls kept glancing in my
direction。 She had extremely short hair and wore dark sunglasses and
a white cotton mini…dress。 I had no idea who she was； so I went on
with my lunch； but she soon slipped out of her seat and came over to
where I was sitting。 With one hand on the edge of my table； she said；
〃You're Watanabe； aren't you？〃
I raised my head and looked at her more closely。 Still I could not
recall ever having seen her。 She was the kind of girl you notice； so if I
had met her before I should have been able to recognize her
immediately； and there weren't that many people in my university who
knew me by name。
〃Mind if I sit down？〃 she asked。 〃Or are you expecting somebody？〃
Still uncertain； I shook my head。 〃No； nobody's ing。 Please。〃
With a wooden clunk； she dragged a chair out and sat down opposite；
staring straight at me through her sunglasses； then
glancing at my plate。
〃Looks good；〃 she said。
〃It is good。 Mushroom omelette and green pea salad。〃 〃Damn；〃 she
said。 〃Oh； well； I'll get it next time。 I've
already ordered something else。〃
〃What are you having？〃 〃Macaroni and cheese。〃
〃Their macaroni and cheese isn't bad； either；〃 I said。 〃By the way； do I
know you？ I don't recall。 。。〃
〃Euripides；〃 she said。 〃Electra。 〃No god hearkens to the voice of lost
Electra。' You know … the class just ended。〃
I stared hard at her。 She took off her sunglasses。 At last I remembered
her … a first…year I had seen in History of Drama。 A striking change in
hairstyle had prevented me recognizing her。
〃Oh；〃 I said； touching a point a few inches below my shoulder； 〃your
hair was down to here before the summer holidays。〃 〃You're right；〃
she said。 〃I had a perm this summer； and it